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Status of Buffalo Farmers and Buffaloes at Subornochar Upozila of Noakhali District in Bangladesh

MR Amin
Department of Animal Science; Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh

MA Siddiki
Department of Animal Science; Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh

AKMA Kabir
Department of Animal Science; Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh

MO Faruque
Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics; Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh

ZH Khandaker
Department of Animal Nutrition, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The aim of the study was designed to investigate the socio-economic status of buffalo farmers, productive and reproductive performances and management practices of buffaloes at different villages of Department of Animal Nutrition, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh Subornochar upozila of Noakhali district in Bangladesh. For this investigation total one hundred buffalo farmers were selected from ten villages. Ten farmers who have at least five buffaloes were randomly selected from each village. The investigation revealed that majority of the buffalo farmers age was ranged from 41 to 50 years followed by 51 to 55 years and less than 40 years. Hundred percent farmers were educated but no farmers were found who completed graduation. More than half of the farmers have primary educated followed by SSC or above and rest of them could sign only. In the study area, sixty eight percent of the buffalo farmers were engaged with agriculture along with buffalo rearing and rests of them were engaged with other business. More than half of the respondents were holding land above ten acres, followed by seven to ten acres and rest of them below three acres. Sixty five percent of the farmers took bank loan and rest of them used own capital and/or NGO’s loan for rearing buffaloes. There were no farmers found who got training on buffalo rearing. More than two third of the respondents practiced buffalo rearing as their family profession and rest of them were influenced by the neighboring farmers. The buffalo breed of this area was mostly indigenous types. The highest numbers of buffaloes found were heifer followed by milking buffalo and buffalo bull calves. About half of the farmers kept their buffaloes at least two years followed by three and one years and rest of them was more than three years.The average milk production of indigenous buffalo was 2.7 liter/day. Birth weight, weaning weight, weaning and slaughter age of indigenous buffalo in the selected areas were 27.5 kg, 56.5 kg and 14 and 55 months, respectively. The average age at first heat that was puberty of buffaloes was 3.4 years. The gestation period, number of service per conception, post partum hear period and inter calving period was 10 months, 3.1times, 4.5 and 15.8 months, respectively. Most of the farmers maintain their buffaloes mainly in extensive system and bathan (80%). Majority of the farmers (70%) expressed availability of the feeds and fodder as the major problem for buffalo rearing. Out of locally available feeds and fodders rice straw, pasture grasses and Uri grass were the main source of feeds for buffaloes in selected areas. Uri grasses was very soft, very high in CP content and were commonly available in the bank of river or see shore. Buffalo farmers were not practicing to supply concentrate feeds to their buffaloes. Four major diseases of buffaloes were found where the incidence of foot and mouth diseases was high (63%). Farmers of the selected area were totally unaware about vaccination and de-worming and they did not follow any vaccination and de-warming programme. They sale their buffaloes to the farmers or butcher and average cost of a pair of buffalo was Tk. 80,000.00 to Tk. 180,000.00. The annual cost of production per buffalo was Tk. 6350.00 while a gross return per buffalo was Tk. 13932.00. The annual food purchasing capacity of the buffalo farmers was increased 58%. The educational, social status, health care and housing cost of the buffalo farmers were also increased through buffalo rearing. Considering all this parameters related to livelihood, it was clearly found that the socio-economic status of the buffalo farmers was improved through buffalo rearing.

Keywords: Socio-economic status, Buffalo, Buffalo farmer, Productive and Reproductive performance

Location: Subornochar upozila of Noakhali district in Bangladesh

Start Date: 00-07-2011

End Date: 00-09-2011

Program Area: Animal Health and Management

Commodity: Buffalo

Objectives:

The present investigation was undertaken to know the socio-economic status; productive and reproductive performances of buffalos and livelihood changes of the buffalo farmers in some selected areas at Subornochar upozila of Noakhali district in Bangladesh.

Methodology:

Selection of study areas and respondents: A survey was conducted at Subornochar upozila of Noakhali district in Bangladesh during the months of July to September, 2011. Total one hundred buffalo farmers were selected from ten villages. Ten farmers were randomly selected from each village that has at least five buffaloes. Collection of data and measurement of variables: The primary information was collected on pretested questionnaires through personal interview on socioeconomic characteristics of buffalo farmers (age, education, occupation, land holding, source of capital), buffalo holding size (types of buffaloes, duration of rearing). Production (birth weight, weaning weight, weaning age, slaughter age, milk production ) and reproduction status (age at first heat, first pregnancy, first calving, gestation period, number of service per conception, post partum heat period, inter calving period). Health care practices (incidence of diseases and health care), and feeding system (feeds and fodder availability, sources of feed, feeding methods). Cost benefit of buffalo rearing, impact and livelihood improvement of farmers toward buffalo husbandry was also investigated. Collection, preparation and chemical analysis of available feeds and fodders: Proximate composition of some locally available feeds and fodders fed to buffaloes were collected to investigate their nutritional contents such as organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), crude fiber (CF), ether extract (EE), nitrogen free extract (NFE), ash. Neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and Acid detergent fibre (ADF) were estimated by fibretec systems (VELP Scientifica, EU) following the procedure of Georing and Van Soest (1970). Samples of feeds & fodder were collected from the selected area, mixed thoroughly, sun dried and ground at the size of 0.5 mm for chemical analysis according to the methods of AOAC (2004). Statistical analysis: All the collected data were checked and cross checked before transferring to master sheets. The data was analyzed with the help of SPSS-v-16 computer package program.

Source of Information: Progressive Agriculture 26:71-78, 2015 ISSN: 1017 - 8139

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Considering all the studied parameters, buffalo rearing was a profitable practice in the selected areas and improve the socio-economic status, purchasing capacity of food and cloths, impact on social status, health care, education, housing of buffalo farmers.

Knowledge Management: Journal